Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the situation when Google Messages becomes the standard SMS application after upgrading a system or buying a new device. For many users, this can be unusual, especially if you have used a service built into the MIUI shell or third-party counterparts for years. The problem is compounded by the fact that some Google system applications are integrated so deeply that their usual removal or deactivation is not always obvious to the average user.
The need to disable can be dictated by various reasons: from a simple desire to return the usual interface to problems with obtaining confirmation codes or intrusive notifications. It's important to understand that Google Messages is a system application, and just uninstall it like a regular game is not possible without special rights. SMS-streams to another application or completely hide its activity in the system.
In this detailed guide, we will look at all the available management methods for this service. We will look at the regular Android tools, hidden MIUI settings, as well as more complex methods through ADB for advanced users. Complete deactivation of the system component of Google requires caution, as it can affect the operation of RCS functions and synchronization on other devices.
Why Google Messages Can Get In the way of Xiaomi
The main reason for the conflict lies in the competition of two SMS-Managers, the shell. MIUI It has its own, deeply optimized messaging app that can filter spam and block contacts at the system level. When Google Messages gets the default app status, it intercepts all incoming inboxes. SMS, Xiaomi’s standard filter stops working properly.
In addition, users often complain about overconsumption of resources. Google services background processes may not work properly in conjunction with Xiaomi’s aggressive energy saving system. This leads to notifications of new messages coming with a delay or not at all until you open the application.
- 📱 Access Rights Conflict: Two applications cannot be master handlers at the same time SMS, What causes errors in the notifications.
- 🔋 Battery consumption: background synchronization and constant network monitoring by Google-application increase battery life.
- 🚫 Problems with blocking: built-in MIUI"Blacklists stop blocking calls and SMS, if the control is intercepted by a third-party application.
Also worth mentioning is the RCS (Rich Communication Services) feature, which is promoted by Google, which turns regular SMS into multimedia chats, but often works unstable in Russia and CIS countries due to the peculiarities of the operators, which is the most common reason why users want to turn off the service.
Disconnection through Android system settings
The safest and first step is to take the default app away from Google. Without that status, it won't be able to intercept incoming messages even if it stays installed on the system. This method doesn't delete the application, but makes it useless to receive SMS.
To do this, you need to go to the system settings. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI or HyperOS, but the logic remains the same. Find the section responsible for managing standard programs. Here you will see a list of categories where you can choose your preferred application.
☑️ Checking the default settings
In the list that opens, find the default App. Next, select the category SMS. In the list of available apps, you'll see "Messages" (from Xiaomi) and "Messages" (from Google). Choose from Xiaomi or any other option you plan to use. SMS via Google.
However, the app itself will continue to run in the background. To minimize its impact, you can further limit its background activity. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, search the list of “Messages” (Google). Go to Battery or Energy Saving and select the option “No Limits” (so it does not wake up the phone) or, conversely, a severe restriction if your version of MIUI allows you to prevent background startup completely.
Complete deactivation through application settings
If simply deactivating the default status is not enough and you want to stop the service completely, you can try deactivating it. This feature is built into Android and allows you to freeze the system application, making it invisible to the user and the system, without actually deleting files.
It is important to note that on some global versions of Xiaomi firmware, the deactivation button for mission critical system components can be hidden or replaced with Remove Updates, in which case the application will roll back to the factory version, but remain in the system. If the Disable button is active, this is ideal.
⚠️ Note: Deactivating Google system components may affect other services that depend on them, such as syncing contacts or backing up chats in Google Drive.
The deactivation process is as follows: open Settings → Applications → All applications. Find Messages (usually with a blue icon with a white letter) click on it and select the Disable button. The system will warn you of the possible consequences - confirm the action. After that, the application icon will disappear from the desktop and its processes will stop.
If the shutdown button is inactive (gray), it means that your firmware version considers the application mandatory, in which case move on to the next section, which describes methods of forced shutdown via the computer.
Using ADB to remove system components
For advanced users who want to completely clean the system of excess software, there is a method using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool from Google that allows you to control the device from a computer. It does not require superuser rights (Root), but requires debugging over USB.
You need to activate the developer mode before you start. → On the phone and press quickly 7-10 once in "Version" MIUI" (or "Version." OS"). Once you have the message "You've become a developer," go back to the main settings menu, find the Additional section and go to For Developers. USB.
List of commands for safe removal
Connect your phone to your computer through USB-On the smartphone screen, you'll see a request for debugging permission -- check the "Always Allow" box and click OK. On the computer in the command line (after installing the drivers and the platform). ADB) Enter a command to remove the packet:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.apps.messagingOnce you enter the command and click Enter, the application will disappear from the system. It will not take up space and consume resources. If in the future you want to return everything as it was, use the recovery command: adb shell cmd package install-existing com.google.android.apps.messaging.
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Before using ADB, make sure to make a full backup of important data, as interfering with system packages always carries a minimal but present risk of unstable operation.
Comparison of the standard MIUI application and Google Messages
To make your choice, let’s compare the functionality of Xiaomi’s native app to Google’s. Each has its own strengths, and the choice depends on your personal preferences and smartphone usage habits.
Xiaomi's app is localized and shell-integrated, it's better at sorting messages from banks and delivery services by automatically grouping them, and Google's focus is on cross-platform and modern communication protocol.
| Characteristics | MIUI messages | Google Messages |
|---|---|---|
| Interface. | Simple, familiar, adaptive | Material Design, Minimalist Design |
| Blocking spam | Built-in, very efficient. | Basic, requires customization |
| RCS (Chats) | Limited support | Full support, priority |
| Synchronization | Only within the Xiaomi ecosystem | Through Google Account (web version) |
| Advertising | Possible in the Promotions folder | Absent. |
If you care about clean inbox and keeping your noise down, the standard MIUI app is often more practical, it filters out the emails that Google Messages might share. On the other hand, if you frequently chat with Android and iPhone users over the Internet (with RCS enabled), Google offers a richer experience with high-quality photos and typing indicators.
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The choice of app depends on priorities: MIUI filters spam better, and Google offers a modern chat interface.
Solving problems after disconnection
Once you have disabled or deleted Google Messages, there may be some nuances in the phone’s operation, most often because the system “does not know” where to send notifications, or some services try to call a remote component.
One of the common problems is the lack of notifications from banking applications that use the system. SMS If you've turned off everything. SMS-Managers, the codes just won't come. Make sure you have at least one messaging app active and selected by default.
- 🔄 Network Settings Reset: If messages don't come, try resetting the network settings in the Settings menu → Connection and sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth.
- 📞 Call conflicts: Sometimes a Google service shutdown affects the number determinant. check the phone book's operation.
- 💾 Cache Clearing: After changing the main application, it is recommended to clear the cache of the new one SMS-Manager to correctly pick up the history of correspondence.
Users also encounter an “App Not Responding” error if they try to open a link that requires a protocol. SMS, a the default application "hangs" in an error state, in which case it helps to completely reset the application settings through the recovery menu or re-install the preferred one. SMS-Customer from Google Play or GetApp Store.
⚠️ WARNING: When using third-party launchers or design themes, disabling system components can lead to visual bugs, such as missing desktop icons.